Summary

We have an exciting opportunity to lead a small team of welcome staff and volunteers at Nymans Garden. As Welcome Manager, you'll head up the staff & volunteer team, on nominated weekends and bank holidays, to welcome our visitors and help them enjoy their visit.  As the most senior person on site, you'll lead and empower your team to respond to customer enquiries and site issues and be the face of the National Trust. You’ll be experienced in managing people, delivering outstanding customer service and leading on risk management. 

One of the National Trust’s most visited places, Nymans was once a creative retreat for the artistic Messel family. The garden holds nationally significant plant collections and at its centre is the Messel family home – a partial ruin. Warm and welcoming, the remaining rooms offer a charming insight to the lives of the people that once lived there. The adjoining woodland, with lake and bird hides, is a place of peace and tranquillity, with plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife and flowers. The small gallery shows changing exhibitions throughout the year and a programme of activities reflects the exhibition themes.

As well as its famous garden and house, Nymans has a successful bookshop, plant centre, cafe and shop. Nyman's garden is a lover's delight, jam-packed with borders offering endless inspiration for your garden at home.

This is a wonderful opportunity to work within an artistic environment where no two days are the same.

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You’ll have overall responsibility for the team, and their safety and working practices, working closely with the Visitor Experience & Operations Manager to develop the site offer. There will be line manager duties for a team of approximately 9-10 team members, these responsibilities will be split with the Welcome &Service Assistant Manager.

You will have responsibility for the day to day operation of the welcome area and ensure the delivery of the highest standards of service and visitor experience, using sound judgement and decision making, in line with National Trust guidelines and policies. You’ll be using your creativity and communication skills both to inspire and motivate your staff and volunteers, and to help provide the friendly face of the National Trust to thousands of visitors. You will be applying your high level of competence to deal with service recovery without senior support being on site. You will engage with all our visitors to inspire support through membership, and help visitors to enjoy their stay. This roll will take on Duty Manager responsibilities and will require an alternating weekend working pattern.

• Good practical experience in visitor business,in tourist, heritage or relevant visitor services environment

• Naturally curious about people, and with a passion to and experience of delivering the highest standards of customer service

• Excellent organisational skills

• Confident leader, adaptable and responsive under pressure

• Ability to initiate service recovery without senior support

• Good IT skills (all MS Office)

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.